Food was delicious, as were the drinks. The limonada tasted so fresh. So alive! But what really stands out is the service. This place is so warm, so generous and inviting. read more

Love this Mediterranean bakery and their pastries!! You have to get their Baklava!!! and honestly, you can't go wrong with anything in the store. Upon entering, we were asked if I had any allergies and they greeted us with their amazing chai tea. They also gave us a couple samples to try and they were all good. We ended up getting 5 items from the store and have been wanting to go back. The interior is simple and decorated with elements of cultural pieces. They have indoor seatings and parking can be easily found on the street. Highly recommend! Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Experience: 9/10 Value: 8.7/10 read more

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The customer service was amazing. Friendly, free samples of their delicious pastries and chai! Had a great Sage tea...some savory pastries for breakfast, then they kindly packaged up sweet pastries for me to take on my flight back to Virginia. Will definitely visit again ! A true gem in the Boston area! One of the best bakeries that I have visited! read more

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This is an excellent bakery - a great experience and great food! They gave us samples of many different breads and treats and were so kind! We really enjoyed the pastries that we had. We started with Potato Borax Snail & Spinach and Cheese Snail - These are stuffed hand pies and were absolutely delicious! We also ordered a side of hummus which was a great addition! The Kunafah cream was also delicious, it was a perfect flaky dough and cream inside, the rose water balanced the sweetness. We also got the lemonada which was a very unique flavor, but really good! Finally, we got the pistachio cake to go- it was absolute perfection. Can't wait to try more there read more

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Phenomenal food and hospitality the coffee was good too ! So glad to have finally stopped in.

Absolutely worth a visit if you are in the area! I recently made a trip to the cafe with some friends and we split a number of pastries and drinks to try. We ordered the Harissa, Kunafah Pistachio, Donut, Kunafah Cream, Zaatar Manaqeesh, Yafa Chai Karak, and Lemonada. Everything we tried was really good and we loved the plates that they presented the pastries on since we dined in. My favorites were the Kunafah Cream, which had a beautiful balance of sweet and slightly savory from the cheese inside, and the Zaatar Manaqeesh, which was warm and delicious from the zaatar spice. I was really surprised by the donut as I was expecting a baked dough inside but was instead a more dense chocolate dessert that was both nutty and decadent. We were convinced to order their chai after trying a sample and being persuaded by its rich, sweet flavor. The cafe's size is on the smaller end but has tables to seat around 4 parties on the inside. Everyone at the cafe was really sweet and when we were missing an item from our order, the staff member addressed it super quickly! I would absolutely come back again and try more of their sweets and savory pastries! read more

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I happened to be dining across the street at an Egyptian restaurant (Koshari Mama) when I saw this bakery and seeing all the positive reviews, I decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did! As a vegan, I was very happy to see everything displayed labeled with the common allergens, and the staff member at the counter was very friendly and knowledgeable about what foods would suit any dietary restrictions. He generously provided 3 different pastry samples and a drink sample. The pistachio balloriya was my favorite with its crispiness and pistachio flavor. I ended up getting a classic balloriya pistachio ($3.75 for 1), 3 pieces of Qairawan ($7.25 for 3), and a savory potato borek snail ($6.25). I can't wait to enjoy them for breakfast, dessert, and as a snack! read more

One of the most thoughtful experiences I've ever had at a cafe. Staff was very kind and helpful in explaining different foods to us and noted allergies. We were offered samples of at least 6 different items, which were all DELICIOUS. Once we ordered, they plated our food so beautifully!! I had no idea they were going to do this so it was such a wonderful surprise. The drinks were definitely a highlight, we got the lemonada and orangina. For food, we got the pistachio baklava rolls, divine kataifi pistachio, the potato snail and tzatziki sauce. Everything was a genuine hit. Yafa is one of my top recommendations and one of my favorite things about Boston!!! read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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My sister and I have been wanting to visit this spot and we LOVED it!! The ambiance is super cute and the aesthetic is definitely detailed to their Palestinian home and culture which we value a lot. A lovely lady gave us small samples of their amazing Yafa Chai Karak upon entry... it was delicious! We then ordered an assortment of desserts to go but fell in love with the Kunafah Cream!! With the cold weather, this made us feel super cozy and at home. It was a lovely interaction with Layan who checked up on us and made sure we were having a delightful evening This will definitely be a spot my sister and I will be coming back for our dates to catch up from time to time :) read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Kunafah Cream - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I wish I could list all the absolutely delicious and gorgeous pastries in the picture but we got some baklava, chocolate baklava, almonando?, and soft cookies. We went for knafel, but ended up getting a bunch of everything after the people gave us so many samples. Felt so much love and warmth in the space. Truly lovely, and I loved the chai (they handed out samples and I instantly fell in love)!!! read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Pastries area - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars- the food was excellent and the owner & servers went above and beyond to make sure we had a good experience and that the food was presented well. They gave recommendations based on what we were looking for and offered samples of the chai and pastries. I highly recommend the kunafah cream- it was very delicately made. Also the lemonade with mint and ginger went perfectly with the savory items. read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Kunafah cream - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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never thought i'd experience authentic chai outside of my moms/india LOL but the chai here was amazing!!! so were all the desserts and the bagel! they were super generous with samples and let me tell you, that had me convinced. this place is one of the best bakeries in boston, if not one of the best middle eastern/palestinian places i've ever been! read more

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Service is outstanding & food is good (chicken shawarma, hummus, grape leaves, Greek salad, beef and chicken kabobs, etc.). I wish they used real plates and cutlery. The disposable stuff cheapens the experience. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. read more

It's a cute new bakery in town that has excellent desserts! There's a huge range of baklava and pastries, which is daunting at first, but the staff is so sweet and helpful. I love how the baklava was not overly sweet and had great flavor. Our favorites were the Kunafah Cream- the wispy flakiness pairs so well with the cheese, and the baklava. The place has limited seating, so plan to get takeout. read more

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Cannot say enough about the joy stopping at Yafa will bring to your day. From the warm welcome when you walk through the door to the free samples galore. You can truly tell that the owner loves sharing his food and culture. Very aesthetically pleasing shop and I cannot say enough about how delicious the food is. The chai is so favorable and the lemonada is so refreshing. Literally everything is so delicious you cannot go wrong. read more

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Service amazing, food also amazing! Walked in and was debating what to get. While waiting they gave my friend and I 4 different free samples to try. The owner is so incredibly kind and welcoming. The decor is beautiful. Food was fantastic read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Cutest and best Palestinian owned cafe in Boston. If I could live here I would. The food is so authentic and you can tell it's made with love. The owner is so sweet and hospitable it makes you feel like you're at home. The mint lemonade is delicious. The ambiance is so cute with tons of Palestinian decor all around. read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Hummus, mint lemonade, pastry - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Yafa Bakery is a delightful one-stop destination for authentic Turkish desserts. Each sweet treat is beautifully crafted, offering a unique burst of flavors that dance on the palate. The presentation is elegant, the ambience is warm and inviting, and the variety is impressive.The service is very fast inspite of the crowd. It was so lovely--our sugars didn't just spike, our hearts did too! read more

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Camberville (because, let's face it, they're not that different) is confusing. Sometimes it's extraordinarily generic and sometimes it is unfathomably world class. I don't think I've lived in a cities like it. World class: Cicada, Bom Dough, Sarma, Celeste And: Yafa. This place is everything you want from a bakery, sparkling and colorful with big glorious windows. And, of course, an entire wall of sexy treats making you forget that you just had lunch and that you were going to work out today. Not to mention the little free chai they give you so you can't get away. It's not fair, Yafa, I have diet goals. Their savory stuff is excellent, it always tastes like they fresh made it. Hard to explain, but there's a flavor to the dough that is just happiness. But really their sweets are the main event. They have the classic baklava and various takes on it (the hazelnut one is, well, nuts). The owner went on a spree of letting us try a couple others and I found the almond and coconut rolls (they look like little cigars) to be absolute magic. It's just a really nice place to sit or pick up a fancy assortment to impress friends and families. Highly, highly recommend. read more

Delightfully delicious, flavorful and bold, creative and comforting. Do yourself a favor and get a warm cup of chai, get a bread with hummus, and sample some desserts and sit at a table and just enjoy everything. The service was friendly and helpful and they took the time to explain the different desserts and breads. I couldn't recommend this place more! read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Inside of the cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This was my first visit after passing it many times, but on my way somewhere else. I walked in and the man behind the counter handed me sample sized cup of their Yafa Chai Karak. It is incredible, layers of spiced flavor riding over the creamy taste of the milk. Then he handed me a little rolled baklava, and a little frosted cookie (I think, I just popped it into my mouth). They have some savory baked goods too, so lunch was a full-size cup of the chai with a cheese and tomato manakeesh (look it up). The only thing better than the food and drink is the incredible warm feeling you get from the family that runs the cafe. Really nice people who care about their customers. I'll be back. And I guess I'll be joining a gym, too. read more

Best bakery that I have ever been too!! Offers a variety of baklavas, different middle eastern pastries, flavorful teas & refreshing drinks. The owner is the sweetest & generous person, offered us so many different samples. I would recommend to everyone in Boston & tourists to visit this special bakery & enjoy the scrumptious delightful pastries! We rode an hour on buses & train to get here and it was 100% worth it read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Recently went to Boston for the marathon and stayed in this area. This was one of my most favorite places of my time in Boston. During our stay we walked here twice and wished we could've squeezed in at least one more trip! The staff and in particular the owner was so very very kind and generous and welcoming with his sweets and time he shared with us. Everything, and I mean everything from the drinks and abundant sweets were delicious!!!! It was lovely to be able to walk here and end our crisp day with soothing and flavorful hot chai! Or take home a bottle of refreshing mint ginger orange blossom lemonade. We left with a box full of delightful sweets as we wanted to taste and have everything! We had wonderfully spiced treats throughout the day. Yafa Bakery was a highlight of my trip and I recommend everyone to go! read more

Wonderful local bakery, with room to sit down and enjoy your treats (although you may have to wait - it is very popular). Fantastic selection of sweet items, all freshly baked and beautifully presented to you after ordering. Family-run, with great, friendly and very accommodating service. Highly recommend you stop by for a special bite to eat. We'll be back the next time we're in the neighborhood! read more

I will definitely be back for the pistachio/chocolate pastry! The staff was very friendly, and they gave us a bunch of samples, which is always a delight read more

About a year since I first visited this urban sanctuary, otherwise known as Yafa Bakery and Cafe, so here is an update. I'm happy to report that everything remains exceptional: bakery delicacies, artistic ambiance and customer (Yafa family) care. Congratulations on being crowned the best bakery in Boston again, very-well deserved and completely expected by those who appreciate the sublime details that define this soul-reviving cafe. read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Palestinian Olive Oil - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I don't get all the hype for this place... It was VERY overpriced, the food was pretty meh, and the customer service was bad. I was standing alone at the register waiting for someone to let me pay for my order for a really long time and when I tried to signal someone, they ignored me. By the time someone asked me if I was being helped I thought... I've been the only one standing here at the register staring blankly for over 10 minutes. They also gave me back my change without any of the coins. Was 8 cents though so I wasn't gonna complain but I didn't really find any positives from this place unfortunately. read more

The lemonada is incredibly refreshing, I buy this by the liter! I also enjoyed their baklava (they do not skimp on the nut filling) and their kunafeh cream, as well as their comforting chai, though note they run on the sweeter side. They have space inside for ~3-4 parties of 2-4, though most people seem to get takeout. The owners are incredibly sweet and happy to chat about their products/ingredients and give you samples to try if you're debating between options. read more

This place is cute and the service is great. They have a wide selection of dessert you can pick from and they go over each one in depth for you, which I really appreciated! Overall, the desert was a little too sweet for me, but delicious nonetheless. My favorite was probably the baklava work pistachios. read more

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Yafa is an absolutely amazing bakery!! Quality and service is always exceptional. We have been visiting Yafa ever since it opened three years ago and recently had them cater desserts for our wedding. The packaging and presentation were outstanding, not to mention beautiful, and we are still happily eating the leftovers! Walking into Yafa always brightens my day. I could not recommend this place any more highly. read more

I have been craving good chai since I came back from New York and this place.......oh WOW. The chai is spicy, rich, and subtly sweet and the complexity of it is to die for. Pair that with their pastries that are crispy and sweet, and you're got a great midday pick me up. The people here are absolute sweethearts. This is a must go place. read more

What a nice guy! I didn't catch his name but the entire time my friend and I were there, he loaded us with samples of the pastries. It was so difficult to choose between the large variety of desserts they offered. I ended up getting the Jerusalem bagel and a coconut bread. So good and so soft! We tried their lemonade drink which was also incredibly refreshing. They also have package deals where you can choose 4/6/8 packs of certain pastries so you can get a sample of each. Definitely worth the trip! read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Huge variety! - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Delicious middle eastern treats! So many different types of treats to choose from, too. The owners were SO kind and gave so many free samples. Service was out of this world. Cozy inside with decent seating. read more

The vibe is amazing. The food and treats are even better. The personnel and the owner are the best! read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Best bakery in town!!! Such a welcoming and inviting space. The staff are lovely and have phenomenal recommendations and explanations of the different types of pastries (with plenty of samples along the way). The limonada drink is the ultimate refreshing thirst quencher for a hot summer's day. The chai was also deliciously spiced. The baklava here is another standout. You can't really go wrong with what you choose. If you haven't been here yet, you'll want to add it to your list! You are missing out!! read more

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I have no words to describe the experience of Yafa. As a gardener when guests enter my garden I love introducing them to new flavors, scents, and textures: "here, try this, smell this, experience the wonder!" From the moment we walked into Yafa the owner himself treated us to the same sort of journey through the garden of his little, intoxicating bakery. He freely offered us numerous samples and explained each one, knocking our socks off with each new nibble. I wasn't sure what I was enjoying more, the exquisite aesthetic of his masterpieces, their ancient depth of flavors, or his enthusiastic passion for it all! Wow. Recommend 1000% just for the generously exotic vibe and warm hug Yafa exudes... but just one bite and your mouth is off to the races. Stunning and sublime, Middle Eastern magic at its best. NOT to be missed. read more

Absolutely amazing authentic Palestinian bakery. They give you free samples, are extremely friendly and welcoming. Service is quick, and often very busy. The inside is on the smaller side with very few seats. Try to go off peak times, but it is usually very busy. read more

This place is amazing - stopped in on a Saturday morning, was offered some chai tea and given a few samples of what was on offer. Incredibly friendly and giving people working there - a lot of love goes into everything they're making. Got a variety of baklavas and savory pastries, barely scratched the surface because they have so many options, need to go back to explore the menu more. The vibe and generosity of the people working there really made my day, put me in a great mood, which was accented by how good the food was read more

Walking in the door to Yafa, the spirit is warmed by both the kindness of the staff and a sample of chai that will rock your world. The story goes like this: last year, my parents stumbled into this bakery while traveling through Boston to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Now, all they can talk about is how they were spoiled rotten with Abdulla's beautiful sweets and contagious kindness for hours. I was finally able to stop in yesterday (10/2/24) to try just a few things for myself. Abdulla not only remembered who my parents were without having met me before, but also sat me down and gave me a tray filled with honey-sweet samples to try. To give you an idea of what the hospitality is like at Yafa, I was unable to finish everything Abdulla gave me and he refused to allow me to pay. His reply to my request to pay him was a smile paired with his superhero catchphrase, "spread kindness." Everything. Is. Delicious. You cannot go wrong in this bakery. My dad's favorite thing is the sweet Kanafa Cream, and my mom's go-to is the savory spinach and cheese pastry snail. Somehow, they're both right. Both of them also rave about the hummus, which I'll have to go back to try. My personal favorite so far is the almond Palma, which is a sort of shortbread cookie that gives you an orgasm while you eat it. I left Yafa with a box of them. Our family lives about 5 states away from Massachusetts and we spend our free time thinking of reasons to go back just to enjoy more time at Yafa. If you appreciate kindness and excellent food, this is the place to go. read more

Delicious food, friendly staff. From the moment we popped in for lunch, the staff were incredibly friendly, with plenty of recommandations and samples. I got a cheesy spiced bread and my partner got stuffed dates (see photo). The food was delicious and prepared perfectly. I washed it down with a mint lemonade and iced chai, taking some pastries to go. There's even a shelf with fresh olive oil jars right from the West Bank. Without a doubt, we'll be back again. read more

Yafa Bakery & Cafe - Lunch - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts